Host a Speakout

Everything you need to know about holding your own SpeakOut

What is a SpeakOut and why are we doing it?

A SpeakOut is a gathering of people in a safe environment, where they are able to raise their voice to articulate their experiences of a situation, and, equally importantly, listen to the voices of others.

We are proposing a SpeakOut about dieting because it is time that we recognize that dieting is not a trivial issue. We need to articulate boldly, honestly, and angrily, the way dieting diminishes people, limits their possibilities of becoming who they could be, and causes millions of people deep anguish every day.

When we start to say no to all this we will finally hear what we actually want, need, and desire. You can hold a Speak Out anywhere, with anyone. By all means aim for big – but if it is just a few of you in someone’s kitchen, that is just as valid and powerful. A SpeakOut is not a therapy session – although there is nothing wrong with feeling better afterwards. In general, the aim is to become really aware of where dieting puts you, and to start making important choices about how much you want to play along with a game that is making you miserable.

It is about starting to listen to yourself, taking care of yourself, and daring to have desires.It is about taking on the challenge to accept and understand how natural it is to recognize hunger and to eat happily, intuitively, and without guilt.It is about recognizing that you are not alone in this struggle. It is about remembering that with every personal choice you make, you are taking a stand in the world.

Whether there are 400, 40 or even 4 of you it is a radical political act and a defining moment not just for you: It will make waves through your life and the lives of those around you.